Sea cucumbers are a group of economically important echinoderms
with a wide range of distribution in coral to mangrove habitats. Out of
200 species known from Indian seas, 75 are from shallow seas; while
only a dozen of them belonging to Holothuridae and Stichopodia are
large with thick body wall and hence commercially important. They
occur in exploitable concentration in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay,
Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The paper presents
family, genera and species key to identification along with the description
and distribution of important species. The paper also reviews
their ecology, animal association, parasites, biotoxicity, collection,
handling and processing for bech-de-mer, conservation and
management and hatchery and culture in Indian situation
